On September 18th, at the Taj Boston on Newbury Street, Ballets Russes 2009 held a reception to officially announce our festival. The party was a smashing success. Droves of people dressed to impress turned out to show their support.

Peter Rand, Ballets Russes 2009 Executive
Director, Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet Artistic
Director, Sylvia Pope, former ballerina and
balletomane, and dancers with George
Balanchine's coat

As costumed dancers from the Boston Ballet flitted among groups of people chatting while enjoying the delicious appetizers and cocktails, one could really feel a sort of electric charge of excitement in the room

Shortly after 6 p.m., Peter Rand, the Executive Director of Ballets Russes 2009, took microphone in hand and introduced the featured speakers of the evening. These included major participants of the Ballets Russes 2009 festival: Mikko Nissinen, Artistic Director of Boston Ballet, Lynn Garafola, noted dance historian, Professor Douglas Sears, Associate Provost of Boston University, Eric Zafran, Curator of the Wadsworth Atheneum, Douglas Blair Turnbaugh, producer of the acclaimed documentary Ballets Russes, and Konstantin Simun, a Russian sculptor who lives in Boston, all spoke to the continuing cultural impact of the Ballets Russes, and the importance of our festival.

Peter Rand, Alston Purvis, Ballets Russes 2009
Art director, Professor Lynn Garafola, dance historian, Barnard College
Anna Winestein, Ballets Russes 2009 Associate Director,
Eric Zafran, Wadsworth Atheneum Curator

The party was kick-off event, which served its purpose very well. It was by all accounts an enjoyable evening, and led many people to commit themselves as partners of Ballets Russes 2009.

Peter Rand and wife, Bliss, Anna Winestein
and Douglas Blair Turnbaugh, Producer of the
acclaimed documentary film, Ballets Russes

Check back for news of more entertaining Ballets Russes events to come in the months ahead.

Henry Lodge, Ballets Russes 2009 Executive
Board member, Mikko Nissinen, Peter Rand
and Clara Wainwright, quilt artist